The Community Health Center of Fort Dodge will be able to keep serving the area and even expand a bit after receiving a $643,415 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

That’s good news for the center, which has expanded the hours of its medical department to seven days a week.

CEO Renae Kruckenberg is grateful.

“We are grateful to receive this funding and will put it to use in our community where we will continue to provide our services during the COVID-19 pandemic and after it’s over,” Kruckenberg said. “We have actually expanded our hours to better serve the community during this time, funding helps us with this.

Regina Suhrbier, outreach coordinator with Community Health Center of Fort Dodge, said the grant can be used to help with COVID-19 related treatment and also for the general operations of the clinic.

“We can maintain or increase our health capacity or staff levels,” Suhrbier said.

During the pandemic, other health issues go on for patients.

“We have lots of patients with chronic issues such as diabetes and high blood pressure,” she said. “Those patients have continuing needs, they still have health needs.”

The clinic has remained open for medical and behavioral health. The dental clinic is only taking emergencies.

“We always strive to be there,” Suhrbier said. “Pandemic or no pandemic.”

One thing the clinic is also doing is discouraging its patients from visiting the emergency room without first calling their provider with anything they might think is COVID-19 related.

“We encourage them to reach out to their healthcare provider before going to the ER,” she said. “The more we keep out of the ER the more of their resources they have available.”

Reaching out means a phone call. Since March 21, the clinic has asked patients who feel they’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to call before coming in.

The clinic can also provide patients with Telehealth appointments and Carside Care.

The grant is administered through the Health Resources and Services Administration. The Community Health Center’s grant was one of 1,387 and is part of a $1.3 billion grant package.